Totalizer control apparatus

ABSTRACT

A totalizer control device for a cash register including coupling plates which control totalizers to be moved into engagement with totalizer racks during different points of time of a machine cycle. On each coupling plate there is slidably mounted a program slide with a pattern of parts turned against the totalizer selecting keys on the keyboard of the cash register. When depressing any of these keys one or several parts are affected to that one or several coupling plates control the movement of the totalizers. A lockable key is coupled to all slides and can relocate the slides so that a different pattern of parts will be turned against the totalizer selecting keys thereby permitting the totalizers to be controlled during other points of time of the machine cycle.

h register into be moved g different points of pling plate there is a pattern of parts g keys on the keyboard of g any of these keys one or ne or several coupling plates e key is couat a different trolled during y phen E. Feldman, Arthur and Philip Furgang Inventor Gosta Roland Englund 2,741,426 4/1956 Goleman Stockholm, Sweden 3,092,313 6/1963 Eberhardt et a1. Appl. No. 886,869 3,263,916 8/1966 Baldus et a1. 1969 Primary Examiner-Stephen J. T omsk 1 Patented g fi 971 AtmrneysNorman Friedman, Ste 3: zt AB 7 T. Groeninger, Morris 1. Pollack ABSTRACT: A totalizer control device for a cas 9 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig eluding coupling plates which control totalizers into engagement with totalizer racks durln U.S. 235/ MT, time of a machine cycle o each c0" 235/6 slidably mounted a program slide with 606C 21/00 turned against the totalizer selectin Field of 235/60 MT, the cash register w depressin 62 60-3, 60-34 several parts are affected to that o Rekrences Cited control the movement of the totalizers. A lockabl pled to all slides and can relocate the slides so th UNITED STATES PATENTS pattern of parts will be turned against the totalizer selecting 6/1936 Goldberg.................... 235/7 keys thereby permitting the totalizers to be con 2/1945 Robertson et 235/6 other points of time of the machine cycle.

United States Patent [22] Filed [73] Assignee [54] TOTALIZER CONTROL APPARATUS 58 5 56 16a 16b 16c 28 30 16d 16c \l 6? i i la TOTALIZER CONTROL APPARATUS The present invention refers to a device for moving at least one totalizer on a totalizer shaft into engagement with actuators in a business machine or similar during different points of time of a machine cycle.

The device which in the following is described as an embodiment of the present invention intends to meet the increasing demands for swift and safe performing of totalizer controlling in a business machine, such as a cash register. .By means of the device according to the present invention this totalizer control is accomplished in a reliable and simple manner and by use of a few details, resulting firstly in that the manufacturing cost will be proportionately low, and secondly that the data entering means arranged on the machine, such as keys, will be few in number and more accessible for the operator. Furthennore, a very swift totalizer control function is obtained with the device according to the present invention, i.e. the function control operation makes use of only a small part of the machine cycle.

A known device for totalizer control includes transaction keys on the keyboard of the machine, i.e. keys which control the movement of the totalizers in relation to the actuators (racks) for the totalizers and which, when depressed, cause one or several totalizers positioned in the machine to be moved into engagement with the actuators immediately before they begin their accumulation movement, or cause thatafter locking means or similar devices arranged on the keyboard first have been set in a certain position-the totalizer or totalizers are moved into engagement with the actuators for zeroizing or reading. The keys of this known device, when depressed, affect racks positioned in the transaction banks. Depending on the setting of these racks they will control programmed means in certain determined position.

These programmed means are thereafter sensed by a sensing device which, via means affected by the totalizer shaft or shafts, transfer the movement of the depressed transaction key to the totalizer shaft or shafts, which thereby at a certain point of time during a machine cycle are engaged with the actuators by the last-mentioned means. As the racks in the transaction banks must be set by the depressed totalizer control keys before the programmed means can be sensed and that a machine cycle therefore first must be initiated, a great deal of the machine cycle will be used before the totalizers can be moved to engagement with the actuators. Furthermore, the totalizer control function requires a great number of sensing and controlling means, resulting in the device calling for a great deal of space.

In the above-described known device, before zeroizing or reading operations can be performed, a locking means or similar must be set in a certain determined position corresponding to the desired operation. Thereafter, the machine must be started and passes a certain part of the machine cycle in order to set the programmed means in a position, corresponding to the desired operation. This will take a great deal of time.

With the device according to the present invention the disadvantages connected with previously known devices for totalizer control are eliminated. In accordance herewith the invention refers to a device which is mentioned in the in- A troduction to claim 1 and the characteristics of the invention are supported for vertical movement in the machine on shafts l2 and 14 attachedto the machine. On the upper edges of the coupling plates 2, 4, 6 are four program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 supported for horizontal movement. Program slides 16, 18,

20 and 22 are on their upper parts provided with projections in the form of teeth 160-1, l8a-d, 20a-f and 22a-d. Program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 are during their longitudinal, horizontal movement controlled by recesses (only one, 8a, is shown in the figure) and by projecting parts (only one, 8b, is shown in the figure) in and on coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8, Between coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 and on the outsides of coupling plates 2 and 8 are washers (only two, 24 and 26, are shown) which guide the program slides in their longitudinal movements, as well as rings (only three, 10a, 12a and 14a, are shown) attached to the shafts 10, 12 and 14 which retain the coupling plates in determined, horizontal positions.

The teeth of the program slides 16, I8, 20 and 22 are arranged to be affected by transaction keys positioned on the keyboard of the machine four of which have been shown on the drawing of the present embodiment. It is to be noticed that more than four keys can be arranged in the transaction bank of the machine. The transaction keys consist of the subtotal key 28, the total key 30, a department key 32 and another department key 34. Key shafts 28a, 30a, 32a and 34a of the keys 28, 30, 32 and 34 extend across all coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 and thereby having the possibility to affect any of program slides l6, 18, 20 and 22. All coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 are biased upwards by springs, of which one, 36, is shown, in the figure. Spring 36 is in one end connected to a shaft 38 attached to the machine and in its other end to a projection 8e on coupling plate 8.

In recesses in coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 coupling links 40, 42, 44 and 46 are rotatorily supported. In recesses 40a and 44a in coupling links 40 and 44 is a shaft 48 arranged. Shaft 48 cooperates with a totalizer 50 which will be described in more detail below. In recesses 42a and 46a in coupling links 42 and 46 shaft 52 is arranged to cooperate with two department totalizers 54 and 56 in a way described below.

Totalizer 50, whose totalizer wheels are rotatably arranged on a shaft 60 can during different points of time during a machine cycle be positioned in raised or lowered position. Shaft 60 is in one end attached to a plate 62, which is supported for upwards-downwards directed movement in a recess 64a in a plate 64 which is attached to the machine. Plate 62 is provided with two rollers 62a and 62b between which curve 66, being attached to a shaft 68 is located. Shaft 68 is coupled to shaft 48 by means not shown in the figure but which is similar to the means that will be described below in connection with shaft 52. Shaft 58 supporting department totalizers 54 and 56, is attached to a plate 70, which is provided with two rollers 70a and 70b between which a curve 72 attached to the shaft 74 is located. Shaft 74 is coupled to shaft 52 via arm 76. The other end of shafts 60 and 58 are not shown in the figure but it should be realized that this end is supported for vertical movement by means similar to the ones described above, i.e. means 6266, 70, 72.

If any of coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 remains in its lower lower position during the first part of a machine cycle, corresponding coupling link or links 40, 42, 44 and 46 can later on in the machine cycle be affected by coupling slides 78 and 80 being positioned below these. Coupling slides 78 and 80 are supported in divisible hubs 82a, 82b; 84a, 84b, being attached on shafts 82 and 84 which are fixed to the machine. During each machine cycle coupling slides 78 and 80 receive a reciprocating, longitudinal movement. A cam follower 86 provided with a roller 86a is rotatably supported in coupling plate 78. Roller 86a rests against the periphery of a cam disc 88. Cam disc 88 is fixed to the main shaft 90 of the machine. A spring 92 attached to the machine and to coupling slide 80 guarantees that roller 94a always is in contact with the periphery of cam disc 96. Cam follower 86 as well as cam follower 94 are rotatably supported on a shaft being attached to the machine. Angular-formed projections 78a, 78bv arranged on coupling slide 78 can affect coupling links 40 and 42 provided that these have taken up their lower position, and angular-formed projections 80a and 80b on coupling slide 80 are arranged to be able to affect coupling links 44 and 46 if these have taken up their lower position.

Coupling slides 78 and 80 receive a longitudinal movement independent of each other and at different points of time during a machine cycle. Coupling slide 78 receives a movement to the left in the figure immediately before the actuators in the machine-racks 101 which are outlined in the figure-begin their accumulation movement, and coupling slide 80 receives a longitudinal movement also to the right immediately before the racks begin their zeroizing movement. A slide 102 is arranged in order to, immediately after racks 101 have performed their zeroizing movement and also immediately after the racks have performed their accumulation movement, restore those totalizer shafts 58, 60 whose totalizers during the zeroizing time and the accumulation time, respective, had been positioned in raised position and in engagement with racks 101. Slide 102 affects, via its projections 102a and 102b, shafts 48 and 52 to be rotated counterclockwise whereby totalizer shafts 58 and 60 are moved down to their lower positions. Slide 102 receives a reciprocal movement twice during a machine cycle by cam follower 104 which is rotatably supported in slide 102. Cam follower 104 is provided with a roller 104a which rests against the outer periphery of a cam 106. Cam 106 is attached to the main shaft 90. Cam follower 104 is rotatably supported on shaft 100.

In the end of each machine cycle bar 108, attached to cam following arm 110 being rotatably supported on shaft 112 which is attached to the machine, will pull down coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 by way of their projections 20, 4c, 60, and 80 against the tension of the springs (only spring 36 has been shown). In the other end of the cam following arm 110 there is a roller 110a which rests on the outer periphery of cam 114. Immediately after a following machine cycle has been initiated, by depressing any of keys 28, 30, 32 or 34, cam disc 114 is rotated so that its low path will be positioned immediately below roller 110a. Bar 108 thereby releases coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 for upwards movement influenced by springs 36, provided that the teeth of the programmed slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 are not affected by any depressed key. The figure shows the position of the devices immediately after one of keys 28, 30, 32 or 34 has been depressed and initiated a machine cycle, i.e. when the main shaft is in a position approximately 10 clockwise from its home position.

In the ends turned to the right in the figure program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 are provided with recesses, of which one 8d is shown. One end of a shaft 116 is supported for transversal, horizontal movement in the machine, at 118, and in its other end it is attached to a slide 122 with a screw 120. Slide 122 is mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement in devisible guide hubs 124 and 126 attached to shafts 128 and 130 which are mounted in the machine. A lock 132, installed in the keyboard of the machine, is provided with a lock barrel 134, which can be affected by a key 136. An arm 138 is connected to lock barrel 134, and its other end is positioned in a notch 122a in link 122. Key 136 can be turned to three different positions and move link 122 and thereby also all program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 horizontally. When turning key 136 to its counterclockwise end position in the figure program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 are moved to the left to a position where their teeth can be affected by any of keys 28, 30, 32, and 34 during a zeroizing operation. When turning key 136 to its clockwise end position, program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 will be moved to the right in the figure whereby their teeth, representing the reading program, will be positioned immediately below the keys 28, 30, 32, and 34. When key 136 and therewith lock barrel 134, arm 138, slide 122, shaft 116 and program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 take up a middle position, as shown in the figure, the teeth on the program slides representing the accumulation program will be positioned immediately below keys 28, 30, 32 and 34 in the transaction bank. In order to keep program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 in distinct, determined positions a position pawl is provided, consisting of an angular-formed arm 140, which is rotatably supported on a shaft 142 attached to the machine. Angular arm 140 is pulled clockwise in the figure by the spring 144 and is also provided with a roller 140a which cooperates with one of three recesses 122b, 1220 or 122d in slide 122. When moving slide 122 from one position to another, roller 140a will thus be moved downwards against the action of spring 144 and immediately thereafter be moved upwards into one of recesses 122b-d which represents the new position.

in order to make the functions of the devices according to the present invention better understood reference is made to the following description which visualizes, as examples, a number of machine operations which can be performed.

At the beginning of the operations it is assumed that lock barrel 134 is in its middle position, which i.e. means that accumulation can be performed in one or more of totalizers 50, 54 and 56. When amount keys (not shown) have been depressed in the keyboard of the machine and key 34, i.e. department key for department 1, is operated a machine cycle is started. All coupling plates 2, 4, 6 and 8 now try to make an upwards movement. Coupling plates 2 and 4, however, are prevented from making this upwards movement since teeth 16h and 18d on program slides 16 and 18 are positioned directly below the depressed key 34. This has the effect that, the coupling slide receives a movement to the left in the figure by cam 96, its projections 80a and 80b passed below coupling links 44 and 46 as corresponding coupling plates 6 and 8 have obtained their upper positions. During zeroizing movement of racks 101 none of totalizer shafts 58, 60 will therefore be moved upwards to engage with the racks. Consequently, no zeroizing of totalizers 50, 54 and 56 will be performed. When racks 101 have finished their zeroizing movement coupling slide 78 will receive a movement to the left in the figure by cam 88 whereby projection 78a as well as projection 78b will affect coupling links 40 and 42 to pivot clockwise as these have been retained in their lower positions by coupling plates 2 and 4 earlier in the machine cycle. The pivoting of coupling links 40 and 42 causes shafts 48 and 52 to turn clockwise which in turn causes shafts 68 and 74 also to rotate clockwise. Curves 66 and 68 affect rollers 62a and 62b and rollers 70b and 72b to move upwards whereby plates 62 and 70 move upwards. In this way totalizer shafts 60 and 58 will be raised to engage with racks 101 immediately before these begin their accumulation movement. After racks 101 have finished their accumulation movement, whereby the amount indexed with the amount keys is registered in totalizer 54 and in itemizer 50, totalizer shafts 58 and 60 are moved downwards since slide 102, during its movement to the right in the figure in the later part of the machine cycle, via projections 102a and l02b affects shafts 48 and 52 to rotate counterclockwise whereby shafts 68 and 74 are also rotated counterclockwise via curves 66 and 72, rollers 62a, 62b; 70a, 70b, plates 62 and 70 movetotalizer shafts 58 and 60 to their lower position.

If key 32, which represents another department than key 34, is depressed with lock barrel 134 still in its middle position, coupling plates 2 and 4 will, in the way described earlier, remain in the lower position and coupling plates 6 and 8 will be raised. Accumulation will now be performed in itemizer 50 and in department totalizer Il, i.e. in totalizer 56. Lateral shifting of totalizer shaft 58 is a necessity in order to register amounts into totalizer 54 or into totalizer 56 during separate machine cycles. However, this lateral shifting does not constitute any part of the present invention and therefore a description thereof is not required.

When depressing key 28, which is a subtotal key, itemizer 50 will be read, i.e. the totalizer will be in engagement with racks 101 during their zeroizing as well as during their accumulation movement. In the latter case coupling plates 2 and 6 will be retained in their lower positions since teeth 16b and 20b are prevented by key 28 from being raised. After key 28 has initiated a machine cycle, coupling slide 80 receives a movement to the left in the figure so that its projection 80a pivots coupling link 44 clockwise. Totalizer shaft 60 is thereby raised to engage with racks 101 before these begin their zeroizing movement. After racks 101 have finished their zeroizing movement and slide 102 has restored totalizer shaft 60 to its lower position coupling slide 38 receives a movement to the left in the figure whereby coupling link 40 is pivoted clockwise by projection 78a on the slide and thereby moves totalizer shaft 60 upwards to its upper position in order to cause that totalizer 50 will be in engagement with the racks also during the accumulation movement.

During the following total taking operation, which is performed by depressing total key 30, coupling plate 6 will be retained in its lower position since tooth 20c on program slide 20 is positioned directly below the depressed key 30. The figure shows total key 30 in depressed position and it is assumed that lock barrel 134 still is in its middle position.

itemizer 50 will now be zeroized since projection 80a on coupling slide 80 pivots coupling link 44 clockwise whereby totalizer shaft 60 is moved upwards against racks 101 before their zeroizing movement begins. Thereafter, totalizer shaft 60 is restored to its lower position, by projection 102a on the earlier described slide 102, before racks 101 begin their accumulation movement.

Now, if its is found desirable to read for example totalizer 54, i.e. the totalizer into which amounts already have been registered via key 34, key 136 is turned clockwise to its end position. Roller 1400 on position pawl 140 thereby springs into recess 12211 in link 122 which, together with shaft 116, is moved to the right in the figure. Thereby, a new program, i.e. other teeth on program slides 16, 18, 20 and 22 will be positioned directly below keys 28, 30, 32 and 34. Teeth 16a and 20a will be positioned below key 28, tooth 20d will be positioned below key 30. Teeth 16d, 18a and 22a will be positioned below key 32 and teeth 16g, 180 and 220 will be positioned below key 34. It is now possible to read any of totalizers 54, 56. For reading, for example totalizer 54, key 34 will be depressed whereby coupling plates 2, 4 and 8 retain their lower positions while coupling plate 6 is raised. This means that totalizer 54 will first be zeroized by the earlier described means and that the amount which was zeroized thereafter is accumulated into totalizer 54 as well as into itemizer 50. Thereafter, totalizer 56 can, if desired, be read, which is carried out in a similar way as when totalizer 54 was read, with the difference that key 32 is depressed, whereby in this case coupling plates 2, 4 and 8, as in the last-mentioned example, retain their lower position while coupling member 6 is raised to its upper position. Since key 32, when depressed, affects totalizer shaft 58 to be moved laterally to a position where totalizer 56 is positioned directly below racks 101, totalizer 56 will be read and the readoff sum will be accumulated into itemizer 50. Thereafter, total key 30 is depressed in order to zeroize itemizer 50. The amount which was zeroized in grand totalizer 50 in this case consists of the total of the amounts which have been read ofi in totalizers 54 and 56.

When turning key 136 counterclockwise to its end position yet another program, intended for zeroizing, is taken in, i.e. other teeth move in below keys 28, 30, 32 and 34, whereby, for example, the depressing of any of department keys 32 or 34 initiates totalizer 54 or 56 to be zeroized and initiates accumulation into itemizer 50. This operation and other operations with key 136 in its counterclockwise end position, are performed by using the earlier described means and therefore do not need any further description.

Above have been described a special embodiment'of the present invention where four keys have been arranged in the transaction bank, and where these keys have turned out to be able to perform certain, special functions. However, it is to be realized that a larger or less number of keys can be arranged in the transaction bank. For example, if nine keys are arranged, nine groups each with maximally 12 teeth on program slides l6, 18, 20 and 22 will be allowed to be positioned directly below the keys. It is also possible to arrange more than two totalizer shafts in the machine and therewith more than three totalizers in the machine, whereby besides itemizer and a plurality of department totalizers also assistant and/or creditbalance itemizer can be arranged. In such a case i.e. two coupling plates for each totalizer shaft must be added.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated but the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made by one skilled in the art and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications as fall in the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a business machine,

a totalizer shaft having a plurality of totalizer wheels;

totalizer actuators;

reciprocally movable totalizer control means;

first control means having a first position wherein said control means is mounted to control the movement of the totalizers into engagement with the totalizer actuators before said actuators begin an accumulation movement; second control means having a first position wherein said second control means is mounted to control the movement of the totalizers into engagement with the totalizer actuators before said actuators begin a zeroizing movement; first means mounted to cooperate with said first and second control means and being provided with a pattern of members which are positioned towards and cooperate with the totalizer control means;

setting means mounted to set said first means in relation to the totalizer control means in a direction which forms an angle to the reciprocal movement of the totalizer control means in order to relocate the pattern of members in relation to the totalizer control means so that after (upon) actuating the totalizer control means when one of the members in the pattern is positioned in the path of movement for the totalizer control means and is affected by it, said first means and the control means which cooperates with said first means are retained in their initial positions or are moved in a direction which forms an angle to the direction of movement of said first means whereby the control means assumes the first position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the members consist of projections on the first means.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the number of projections are maximally three for each totalizer control means.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein parts of the totalizer control means extend perpendicularly to the first means and have a longitudinal extension which is at least equal to the total thickness of the first means.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein upon activating one of the totalizer control means below which a projection on a first means is positioned, this last-mentioned means and the control means cooperating with it take up the first position, and when a totalizer control means, below which no projection on a first means is positioned has been activated, this means and the control means cooperating with it take up a second position separated from the first position.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the setting means are arranged to be able to affect the first means to take up any of three positions in the direction which forms an angle to the reciprocal movement of the totalizer control means, whereby in the first position at least one activated totalizer control means, via a first means, can affect one of the control means to take up its first position and whereby in the second position the totalizer control means, via the first means can affect the second control means to take up its first position, and whereby in the third position the totalizer control means, via the first means can affect both of the control means to take up their first position.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the setting means includes a locking means which is accessible on the machine and which, when opened, can be manually set to any of the three positions.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the setting means, when being set, simultaneously affect all first means.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein each first means is formed as a slide which is slidably arranged on corresponding control means. 

1. In a business machine, a totalizer shaft having a plurality of totalizer wheels; totalizer actuators; reciprocally movable totalizer control means; first control means having a first position wherein said control means is mounted to control the movement of the totalizers into engagement with the totalizer actuators before said actuators begin an accumulation movement; second control means having a first position wherein said second control means is mounted to control the movement of the totalizers into engagement with the totalizer actuators before said actuators begin a zeroizing movement; first means mounted to cooperate with said first and second control means and being provided with a pattern of members which are positioned towards and cooperate with the totalizer control means; setting means mounted to set said first means in relation to the totalizer control means in a direction which forms an angle to the reciprocal movement of the totalizer control means in order to relocate the pattern of members in relation to the totalizer control means so that after (upon) actuating the totalizer control means when one of the members in the pattern is positioned in the path of movement for the totalizer control means and is affected by it, said first means and the control means which cooperates with said first means are retained in their initial positions or are moved in a direction which forms an angle to the direction of movement of said first means whereby the control means assumes the first position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the members consist of projections on the first means.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the number of projections are maximally three for each totalizer control means.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein parts of the totalizer control means extend perpendicularly to the first means and have a longitudinal extension which is at least equal to the total thickness of the first means.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein upon activating one of the totalizer control means below which a projection on a first means is positioned, this last-mentioned means and the control means cooperating with it take up the first position, and when a totalizer control means, below which no projection on a first means is positioned has been activated, this means and the control means cooperating with it take up a second position separated from the first position.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the setting means are arranged to be able to affect the first means to take up any of three positions in the direction which forms an angle to the reciprocal movement of the totalizer control means, whereby in the first position at least one activated totalizer control means, via a first means, can affect one of the control means to take up its first position and whereby in the second position the totalizer control means, via the first means can affect the second control means to take up its first position, and whereby in the third position the totalizer control means, via the first means can affect both of the control means to take up their first position.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the setting means includes a locking means which is accessible on the machine and which, when opened, can be manually set to any of the three positions.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the setting means, when being set, simultaneously affect all first means.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein each first means is formed as a slide which is slidably arranged on corresponding control means. 